Return to Learn Plan

Covid-19 Response Protocol

  • A positive test will result in an additional 5 day isolation from the date of the positive test.  

  • A fully vaccinated (and boosted if outside 6 month from initial vaccines) student/staff will not need to quarantine/isolate after an exposure unless symptoms are present.  

  • See below for the Quarantine Informtion:

Day 0

Exposure or

Positive Test

Day 1

QUARANTINE

Monitor for Symptoms

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

If exposed and not living in household with Positive Person - Eligible to Test in Order To End Quarantine On Day 6

Day 6

Resume Normal Activities ONLY with a Negative Test IF No Symptoms Present

 Procedure For “Testing Out” of Quarantine:

  1. Receive a Negative Test On/After Day 5

  2. Individuals who test out and return on Day 6 must give a copy of their negative test results to their supervisor/school office before returning to class/work.

  3. “Test Out” option is only available for those not living in a home with a person who has tested positive in the last 5 days.

IF A POSITIVE TEST IS RECEIVED:

  1. Seek advice from a qualified medical professional

  2. Begin 5 Day Quarantine

Quarantine Refers to the practice of separating individuals who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 to determine whether they develop symptoms/test positive for the disease.  Quarantine must be followed in all settings to be effective.

ISOLATIONS:

Separate yourself from others if you have COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. Isolation is used to separate people infected with COVID-19 from those who are not infected.  

Isolation or quarantine: what’s the difference?

Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others.

Isolation keeps someone who is infected with the virus away from others, even in their home.

Who should Isolate?

  • People who have symptoms of COVID-19 and are able to recover at home

  • People who don’t have symptoms but have tested positive for COVID-19.

Who should Quarantine?

People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 - excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months or who are fully vaccinated (and booster shot if outside of 6 months from initial vaccine).

  • People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered do not have to quarantine or get tested again as long as they do not develop new symptoms.

  • People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms  .

  • People who have been in close with someone who has COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated (must have booster if outside of 6 months from initial vaccination) against the disease and show no symptoms

What counts as close contact for DPS?

  • You were within 3 feet (classroom setting) or 6 feet (outside of classroom setting) of someone who has COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more in a 24 hour period;

  • You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19;

  • You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them);

  • You shared eating or drinking utensils;

  • They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you.

Steps to take if you’ve been identified as a “close-contact”

In compliance with state law, DPS strongly recommends that students stay home and monitor their health.

CDC guidance states to:

  • Stay home for 5 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19

  • Watch for fever (100.4F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19

  • If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19.

Quarantines should be followed inside and outside of school to be effective in preventing  the spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they have the virus.

When does a quarantine end?

  • A quarantine may end after Day 5 without testing and if no symptoms have been reported during daily monitoring

  • A quarantine may also end after day 5 with a negative test if no symptoms were reported during daily monitoring:

    • The test can be a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based) or rapid (antigen) test

    • The test must be administered no earlier than Day 5;

    • Regardless of a negative test, a quarantine should not end earlier than Day 5;

      • Even if a negative result is received on Day 5, you should not exit quarantine until after Day 5.  

Individuals who test out and return on Day 6 must give negative test results to their supervisor/school office before returning to class/work.

Instruction

  • School will be in person five days a week.

  • If our school reaches Tier III on the Darlington tiered level, we will switch to remote learning for 10 days.

Masks

  • In compliance with Senate Bill 658, masks will not be required unless Canadian County is declared a state of emergency and in consultation with the county and state health departments as well as Indian Health Services.

  • If Canadian County is declared a state of emergency, Darlington will implement our tiered system to determine if masks should be required.

Social Distancing

  • Social distancing will be encouraged when space allows.

  • Students will not be restricted to their pod seating.

Hand Sanitizer/Hand Washing

  • Hand sanitizer will be available and encouraged for use.

  • Handwashing will be encouraged throughout the school day.

Cleaning

  • Disinfecting supplies will be in each classroom for teachers to use as needed.

  • Janitorial staff will be disinfecting classrooms and buses as needed.

Contact Tracing

  • Darlington will track the number of positive Covid cases reported.

  • Contract tracing will not take place unless directed by the county health department or Indian Health Services.

COVID-19 Vaccinations and Testing

  • COVID-19 Vaccinations are encouraged but not required for those eligible. 

  • COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics will be offered to those eligible.

  • Students or staff  will be referred to Indian Health Services or the Canadian County Health Department forCOVID-19 testing when needed.

Parents, Guest and Visitors

  • Visitors and guests will be allowed in the building for programs, conferences and other special events.

Virtual Meetings

  • Virtual Parent/Teacher conferences will be offered to parents who cannot or choose not to attend in person.

  • Virtual IEP/504 meetings will be offered to parents who cannot attend in person.  

Field Trips and Travel

  • Field trips and travel will be allowed based on the restrictions that were in place pre-Covid.

Remote Learning

  • If Darlington is closed due to COVID positive cases, weather conditions or other extraordinary circumstances, remote learning will be instituted.

  • Students will not be offered Virtual instruction in place of in person learning unless deemed necessary by the circumstances identified above.

Lunches

  • Students will eat in the cafeteria and resume lunches as they were before COVID unless the classroom teacher chooses for his/her class to eat in the classroom.

  • Guests at lunch will be limited to special occasions such as a student’s birthday and must be approved prior to the visit.

  • Lunches are free to all students and will be provided if the school is closed due to COVID.